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Apple’s iPad 2 to Ship by March 2011?

Apple’s iPad, probably one of the biggest selling pieces of technology to come out of Steve Jobs’ empire since the iPod, is not only Apple’s biggest product but also one of the hottest selling pieces of tech in today’s market. The iPad is one portable device that everybody wants...

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Rumor time! Here on the internet it’s always rumor time, especially if you’re talking about Apple. The newest rumor comes in the form of a new screen size for the unannounced iPhone 5. A recent leaked image of a supposed iPod Touch screen panel has hit the internet, showing an increased screen size for the device.

Macrumors dropped images of white and black front panels that supposedly belong to the next generation of Apple’s iPod Touch. The images show panels that measure the screen at 4.1″ diagonally, a full 0.6″ larger than the last four generations of the device.

It is still unclear as to whether or not these photos are legitimate or not, or whether Macrumors’ source is legit either, though Macrumors has a pretty good track record with their sources and leaks. The site was able to post some pictures of the third-generation iPad panel with specs that matched the final product several weeks before the device was even announced.

What is even more interesting is that these pics come right on the heels of a blog post made on Apple blog 9to5Mac that Apple is testing two new iPhone variants, one of which will include a 3.95″ display. In addition to that, recent claims from The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Bloomberg state that Apple is planning on increasing the screen size of the next iPhone.

The photos of the screens weren’t the only thing posted by Macrumors. The site also posted pics of what could be the new front and rear camera parts as well as the home button that could all be heading to the next generation of the iPhone.

It is expected that Apple will follow a similar release schedule for the iPhone 5 like it did last year with the iPhone 4S with the release of the new device coming this fall. It is also rumored that Apple will be dropping some hardware updates in the next couple of weeks at its annual developers conference where it will debut retooled versions of the company’s notebooks and a new version of iOS.

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There are always rumors circulating about Apple products. The lastest one comes in the form of an iPod Nano rumor. The rumor claims that the 7th generation Nano will be coming with a camera. That rumor isn’t new, though it has picked up a lot of steam recently thanks to some new pictures that leaked on a Taiwanese Apple site.

The first hint of a camera on the new Nano broke last April and this rumor was promptly followed up in May when some more pics surfaced. In both cases the images came from Apple.pro, an Apple site based in Taiwan, and the site appears to have revealed even more pictures of the rumored device.

The pictures make it seem like the Nano will keep the smaller (crappier) size and shape which it has had for the past two generations with the inclusion of the camera that will protrude from the back of the Nano instead of being flush, like you would see on a smartphone.

The one thing that is unclear is if these pictures are of a scrapped prototype or an actual new generation of the iPod Nano. The other thing that is up in the air is whether or not people would want a camera on a device this small. I can’t see there being much desire for one, especially considering that the screen you would be viewing the pictures on would be extremely small.

Maybe if Apple had stuck with the older version of the Nano, the one that was still very slim but was equivalent to about 2.5 to 3 of the current Nanos stacked end-to-end then there would be reason for the camera. But considering the Nano is now basically a Shuffle with a screen, it doesn’t make much sense, at least that’s how I see it.

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Apple has just launched an all-new recycling plan that is designed to help you actually make money from your old iPhone, iPad, Mac or, surprisingly, your old Windows PC. Known as the Reuse and Recycling Programme, (no, that’s not a spelling error, that’s actually how Apple spells it), this scheme will be operated by Dataserv GmbH and will allow you to recycle your old or unwanted technology, if you live in the UK that is.

According to a message poster on Apple’s website, “Apple’s commitment to the environment includes finding the most efficient ways to reuse or recycle electronic equipment at the end of its useful life, including iPHone, iPad, Mac or PC computers, and displays from any manufacturer. You may even get some money for your old equipment.”

Getting started with the program is easy. All you have to do is go to the Reuse and Recycling Programme website and answer a small series of questions about the device you want to recycle. Once that is done, you will be given an estimate of the overall value of the device as well as a prepaid shipping label, compliments of Dataserv.

The message on the site also reads, “Whether it’s an iPhone, iPad, Mac or PC computer, working or not, we’ll take it and determine if it qualifies for reuse and has a monetary value. If it does, the amount will be credited directly into your bank account. If it doesn’t, you can recycle it responsibly through one of our free recycling programmes.”

After your device has been valued, you can send Dataserv the device, where it will be verified upon receipt. Once that happens, the value you were given for the recycled device will be directly deposited into your bank account. In addition to the aforementioned devices, you can also recycle old iPods and mobile phones via Apple.

Source: PC World – Apple Launches Recycling Program for iPhones, iPads, Macs and PCs in the UK

DVD Video Projectors are exactly what they sound like, a combination unit that combines a DVD media player with a video projector, cutting out the need for multiple pieces of electronics and wiring.

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It appears as if Apple has recently won a couple of patent applications that the company has created over the past few years. These patents include such things as the second generation iPod Shuffle, as well as the ability to switch between applications during a call on the iPhone. Unfortunately, these patents do not foreshadow anything that will be released in the future necessarily nor were they meant to be kept secret for long.

However, even though these patents may not lead to new technologies, each is interesting to look at in order to know the process. One thing that sticks out immediately is that Steve Jobs’ name is still very much attached to the core of these transactions.

The first application displays details about a button that will allow the user to switch between apps while talking to someone on their iPhone. You would, essentially, be able to tap the application switch icon that is on the same screen as the phone dialer and switch back to the call with another button located above the display at your leisure.

Functionality like this was replaced by the multitasking abilities of iOS 5 since the application was created. The original patent was filed back in Q1 of 2008 and credits Senior Vice President of iPhone Software Scott Forstall, as well as his team members Stephen Lemay, Imran Chaudhri, Greg Christie and Marcel Van Os.

The other patent was for the second generation iPad Shuffle which also credits Steve Jobs as a designer. There are dotted lines in the picture of the patent that, interestingly enough, are not claimed in the patent. Then there is a microperforated and backlit display having alternate display capabilities which relates to an earlier patent won by Apple. That patent win deals with components on Apple computers that are invisible until light is shown behind them.

Full details can be found at Patently Apple, who have recently found themselves in possession of these newly won patent applications. Head on over there if you want to learn all about it.

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Apple is cracking the whip as the company has just banned security researcher Charlie Miller from its iOS developer program. Mr. Miller’s offense? He publicly demonstrated a proof-of-concept attack that would enable an app developer to execute arbitrary code on any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch that is running version 4.3 of iOS or later.

For this Miller has been suspended from the developer program for one year. According to a recent tweet from Miller, “First they give researcher’s (sic) access to developer programs, (although I paid for mine) then they kick them out.. for doing research. Me angry.” Apple broke the news to Miller via a letter that the company was kicking him out of the program for breaking its terms of service.

Before getting an app to the Apple App Store, Apple first vets the app. If approved, the company then signs the code to ensure that the app cannot be changed. However, the flaw that Miller discovered essentially breaks the iOS application security walled garden, allowing malware attacks to be launched.

According to a statement from Miller in his unlisted YouTube video that demonstrates the attack, Miller said, “The flaw I found is in the way that Apple handles code-signing. Code-signing is important because that’s the way that Apple protects you from malware.” Here is a link to Miller’s video because unlisted videos can only be viewed by someone who already has a link to the video itself.

In order to test the vulnerability he had discovered, Miller created Instastock, a fake stock market app that Apple accepted. “It doesn’t do anything weird or funny, it just checks the stocks,” said Miller in the video. At least, that’s what it appears to do. After being downloaded from the Apple App Store and first run, the app contacted an attacker’s server.

For the purpose of the test, the server (in this case) was located at Miller’s home in St. Louis and he didn’t have to push in any code to the app while it was being reviewed by Apple. However, after it was approved, Miller was able to open a shell with the device and issue remote commands, making the iPhone do everything from listing directories and processes to making the phone vibrate or download the user’s address book for the attacker.

Miller added, “You can imagine downloading a nice app like Angry Birds, but instead of just being Angry Birds, it actually could download and do anything it wants, and Apple would have no idea that had happened.” In addition to that Miller disclosed the code-signing vulnerability to Apple several weeks ago, although he did fail to mention the proof-of-concept app that he’d uploaded to the App Store, the same app Apple approved and made available in September.

Miller also demonstrated the exploit in his video, which was also posted in September. However, Apple apparently did not hear about the proof-of-concept attack demonstration until Monday, the same day Miller detailed the flaw and provided a link to his YouTube video to Andy Greenberg at Forbes.com. A mere hours after the story hit the web, Apple canceled Miller’s iOS developer account.

By day Miller is a simple principal consultant at the security research firm Accuvant. However, it appears as if Miller is now best known for “hacking” Apple wares. At the Black Hat Conference over the summer, Miller demonstrated how to hack Apple laptop batteries by reprogramming the firmware. This would allow a hacker to brick the battery or even make it serve malware.

Miller isn’t letting this ban phase him, however, as he intends to demonstrate his code-signing attack next week at the SyScan Conference in Taiwan and then again at the Infiltrate Conference in Florida in January. Is Apple’s reaction a bit extreme? Especially considering the fact that Miller found a major fault in Apple’s programming and then proceeded to tell the company about it? This writer thinks so, but what do you think? Sound off in the comments.

Source: Information Week – Apple Excommunicates iOS Cracker

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If you had to compare the new iPod touch to any of Apple’s other products then it would most definitely be like the iPhone 4. In fact, it is almost exactly like an iPhone 4 without the phone part. The new iPod Touch is even thinner than the original, has a Retina display, Apple A4 processor, gyroscope and a digital camera on both the front and back for FaceTime.

The new iPod Touch has a huge list of features including these main ones:
– It has the iPhone’s Retina Display, 3.5-inch, IPS-based with a razor-sharp 326ppi resolution.
– Ability to record 720p HD video and take pics with the back camera.
– Ability to FaceTime with other iPod Touch devices and iPhone 4 devices using the front camera.
– Runs at the same speed as the iPhone 4 using the same Apple A4 chip.
– Incorporates the same 3-axis gyroscope of the iPhone 4 making motion tracking more precise.
– Will have iOS 4.1 built-in.
– Will have built-in speaker and microphone.

Now obviously there are some major differences in this new generation iPod Touch in comparison to the previous generation. The most notable, and most welcomed and demanded, change is definitely the two cameras. However, the back camera can record H.264 video at 720 lines of resolution (720p) and 30 frames per second which isn’t quite as much as the iPhone 4. The front camera is identical to the iPhone 4’s capturing 30fps for videoconferencing.

One change that kind of flew under the radar is the built-in microphone. The new iPhone is there for FaceTime, but it will have a lot of other uses as well like Skype. This new feature could quite possibly turn the iPod Touch into an iPhone replacement for those of you who do not feel the need to be in constant voice contact. This is especially useful for the younger generation who spends a majority of their time texting rather than talking.

Apple has also boasted that they have increased the amount of playback time to 40 hours af audio and 7 hours of video while making the overall package smaller. The exact dimensions come in at 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.28 inches. This is significantly smaller than the previous iPod Touch’s 0.33 inches of thickness. This new generation also weighs less than the previous generation coming in at 3.56 ounces as opposed to the previous generation’s 8 ounces.

It seems that almost everything about the new iPod Touch’s features are quite a bit better than the original. The dual cameras are a huge plus as well as the quick A4 processor which is a must-have addition for gamers. In addition to the new dimensions, the iPod Touch 4th generation seems like a very good upgrade for most users, as long as it lives up to a real world test. There is, however, one disappointment amongst iPod users which is the low resolution back camera. In order to get a good camera sensor you will have to pay the iPhone 4 premium price.

All in all if you are in the market for an iPod upgrade or are just looking to purchase your first iPod, then the new generation iPod Touch is a perfect choice. You can get yours when they go on sale soon.